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Niall Horan is mourning the loss of his close friend and former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who passed away on Wednesday, October 16, at the age of 31.
In a deeply emotional statement on Instagram, Horan, also 31, reflected on his bond with Payne, posting a photo of the two from their early days in the globally successful boy band.
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“I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam,” Horan wrote. “It just doesn’t feel real. Liam had an energy for life and an infectious passion for work. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure. All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness. We got to live out our wildest dreams together, and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.”
Horan also expressed how grateful he was to have seen Payne just two weeks before his death at his concert in Argentina on October 2. “I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently,” Horan shared. “I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking. My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola, and of course his son, Bear. Thank you for everything, Payno. Love you, brother.”
Horan’s statement was the last to come from the remaining One Direction members, following earlier tributes from Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.
Payne’s untimely death has shocked fans and the music world alike. The singer was recently seen reconnecting with Horan at his October 2 concert at the Movistar Arena in Argentina, where Payne attended with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Kate Cassidy. In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) at the time, Payne expressed his excitement about reuniting with Horan after some time apart.
“It’s been a while since me and Niall have spoken,” Payne said in the video. “We’ve got a lot to talk about. And I would like to square up a couple of things with the boy. No bad vibes or anything like that, but just, um, we need to talk.”
The bond between Payne and Horan, as well as the other members of One Direction—Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik—formed during their rise to stardom after being grouped together by Simon Cowell on The X Factor in 2010. The band released five studio albums, including Up All Night and Take Me Home, before going on hiatus in 2016. Since then, all five members have pursued successful solo careers.
Payne’s solo music career saw the release of his album LP1 in 2019, as well as two EPs and 14 singles. He also embraced fatherhood, welcoming his son Bear with singer Cheryl Cole in 2017. Despite their split in 2018, Payne remained an involved father, often sharing updates about Bear, now six years old.
As the world continues to mourn Liam Payne, his legacy as part of one of the most iconic boy bands of all time and his impact as a solo artist and father will be remembered by fans and loved ones alike.